What the heck is this?

[Rich]

Okay.. so I went steelheading today and all I managed was this mystery fish. I was sure it was a salmon, but after inspecting it closely I couldn't figure out what type of salmon. It was a male, and I kept it. The pics were taken after I took the guts out and it had laid on shore and bled out for probably an hour, but the coloration remained the same just a little lighter. After eating it this evening (it was delicious by the way) I know for a fact it was some type of salmon. I've just never seen a salmon with that kind of coloration. The weirdest part for me was getting a salmon that looked so fresh this late in the season. Maybe some OFC'ers can clarify my catch!

 

 

 

 

And the ever so famous, "porch shot"

 

[pikeie]

im not sure but maybe could it be an atlantic salmon?? although ive never seen an atlantic before lol

[CRMC]

Looks like a Brown Trout to me Rich.

Looks Delicious too.

Great Catch

[danc]

I'd agree that it is an Atlantic, if it's a Salmon.

[Milty]

Looks like some kinda weird brown trout hybrid,..strange lookin fish,..i hope somoene can identify it..did u eat it yet? How did it taste ?? Way to go on the catch though,..how was the fight? What were you using?..shoulda took pics b4 gutting it...probably best to take this baby out of the gene pool...lol,..but im not sure i would eat that or anything else from Lake O tribs...LOL

Edited November 11, 2007 by Uncle Milty

[Guest skeeter99]

Sorry

 

I just think it is funny that you caught a fish out of lake O trib and you dont know what it is **AND THEN YOU ATE IT** LOL!!!!!

 

 

looks like a brown trout salmon hybrid ?

[Rich]

I ate it, it was delicious. Caught it on a roe bag bottom bounced and it was a Lake Erie trib.

 

I thought I knew it was a salmon when I kept it.. didn't really think about the strange coloration until afterward. I was just too excited about the meal, LOL!

 

It fought like a champ, no jumps though.

 

Definitely not a trout though, I can tell by the taste of the meat, haha

 

Now I kinda feel guilty for keeping an atlantic..

[Rich]

Well I just googled "male atlantic salmon" and boom, there it was. Definitely a male atlantic. Wow if that's how atlantic's taste I hope I catch more, LOL

[steelhunter]

the fish is a brown trout lots of them inthe system now

[Nater]

Baffles me that you can fish rivers and not distinguish between a brown and an atlantic

 

Do they put something in the water you guys drink over there?

 

Nate

[steverowbotham]

it looks similar to a male atlantic and that was my intial thought, but judging by the tail, definitely a brown

[SlowPoke]

Square tails are usually trout, brown in this case. Lakers are an exception to my trout rule, they tend to have a forked tail like salmon. I don't catch a lot of trout but I'd guess it's a brown.

-Brian

[Rich]

Baffles me that you can fish rivers and not distinguish between a brown and an atlantic

 

Do they put something in the water you guys drink over there?

 

Nate

 

No I just focus on more important species throughout the fishing season..

[douG]

We don't talk like that here, Nate.

 

On the other hand, I'm with you. I have no idea what kind of fish that is, either.

 

Baffled.

Edited November 11, 2007 by douG

[DMASSE]

THATS A ATLANTIC FOR SURE

 

WE LET ABOUT 300 GO LAST YEAR ON WILMONT AND BOWMANVILLE

 

BY THE WAY NATE SMOLT TO JUVINELE ALTALANTIC LOOKS THE SAME AS A BROWN..

 

NICE FISH, we caught 2 last year 1 On the credit and another in bowmanville. Both of mine were tagged.

 

Dave

[danc]

Interesting responses. So.... what is it? Atlantic or Brown? And why?

[Rich]

Male Atlantic Salmon:

 

 

After some investigation on Google I'm also 100% sure it was a male atlantic. No tags either. I wasn't aware there was a stocking program on atlantics in Lake Erie.. any thoughts?

[steverowbotham]

the tail says its a brown.

[irishfield]

And why is that...it appears Atlantics have a square tail.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Salmo_s...rken_Norway.JPG

 

Edited November 11, 2007 by irishfield

[aniceguy]

there is no Atlantic stocking on Erie..its a brown and they are stocked in erie, in larger and larger numbers each year by the DEC. The fish is not a hybrid or anything of the sorts just a brown in full spawn dress, with a worn out tail from being a repeat spawner

 

smolt to juvinile fish Atlantics have a different spot pattern and very different parr markings then a brown, the two fish in the natal stage of life are very easy to distinguish, to the angler not aware of the sometimes subtle but easily distinguisable markings and patterns migratory out of the lake browns and an Atlantic can sometimes be confused. Atlantics are for the most part out of season in the stream environment while browns are'nt

Edited November 11, 2007 by aniceguy

[Musky or Specks]

Gotta agre with brown trout here Lots of them stocked in Eire on the US side plus resident populations in Lynn,Big and Otter. Ive caught a lot in Big while steelheading.

Edited November 11, 2007 by Musky or Specks

[eyefish]

I too say a brown..no stocking of atlantics in erie at least I think so anyway

[Rich]

Guess you had to taste it to know that it was not a trout.. lol

 

I've stopped caring. I now know what it was. Thanks for the help guys.

Edited November 11, 2007 by Rich

[danc]

there is no Atlantic stocking on Erie..

 

I don't know what it is honestly. We don't have either species up here. But... there is no Flounder stocking in Lake Superior, and one has been caught there.

[Milty]

Gotta be some kinda Hybrid...Brown/Atlantic...lol